Are you making the most out of your study sessions? If you're feeling stuck, frustrated, or just not seeing the progress you want, it might be time to shake up your study routine! This week on Confident Certification™, Sarah B. Cruz explores the practice of level setting, focusing on how it can help transform your study experience and keep you on track toward your certification goals. From setting clear intentions and breaking down your study plan into manageable milestones to celebrating your p...
May 28, 2024•20 min
On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "How Can AI Help in Staff Training and Onboarding?" with our Artificial Intelligence Expert™, Yeshwanth Pulijala, PhD. To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: http://www.beyondcleanmedia.com Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one...
May 25, 2024•2 min
On this CE-approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for leadership insights on handling annual reviews in your Sterile Processing department: "As with everything else you do as a leader, you are always teaching with your actions. You are either teaching your team that you believe in them and want them to succeed, or you are teaching them that their success is none of your concern. Yes, more than likely you will have to give low performance reviews. And most of you will have at least a ...
May 23, 2024•5 min
Are there hidden dangers lurking in your SPD? Tune in to this eye-opening episode of “On Pathogens & PPE,” as host Jill Holdsworth and special guests Dannie O. Smith and Chaz Rhone uncover the common bloodborne pathogens, like HIV and hepatitis, that could be lurking in your SPD and posing a threat to your safety. They'll dive into best practices for reducing the threat of bloodborne pathogens including, preventing sharps injuries, handling post-exposure situations quickly, and ensuring the ...
May 22, 2024•29 min
Feeling pressed for time as you juggle work, life, and preparing for your upcoming exam? What if you could maximize your exam prep just by diving into the expansive world of on-the-go learning? On this week’s episode of Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz teams up with special guest Justin Poulin, to explore how you can take your study routine to the next level with the help of auditory learning. From sharing personal stories of tactile and audible learning to strategies for curating a ...
May 21, 2024•32 min
Buckle up, #CleanFreaks, because we're wrapping up this season of "The Papers that Make Us Awesome" with the one document that can make or break your day in Sterile Processing: Instructions for Use (IFUs)! In this action-packed season finale, we're diving deep into the world of IFUs with the one and only Ralph Basile, Standards Corporate Executive at Healthmark Industries Inc, a Getinge Company. From the technical side of crafting these essential documents to the manufacturer's perspective and t...
May 20, 2024•30 min•Season 24Ep. 8
On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Variety of Packaging" with our Sterile Containers Expert™, Mike Strand. To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: http://www.beyondcleanmedia.com Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one of our current experts? Contact us at any tim...
May 18, 2024•2 min
In this CE-approved Beyond Clean Articles On-The-Go episode, Hank Balch explores how smart home technologies can be adapted to improve Sterile Processing department workflows, communication, and asset protection. -- "While many of us are outfitting our homes with the latest smart devices on the market, large numbers of our departments are still operating under the same technologies that were in use more than 40 years ago when Jimmy Carter was president and the movie Grease was just hitting theat...
May 16, 2024•7 min
Get ready to dive into the microscopic world of microbes in this week's edition of "On Pathogens & PPE!" Join host Jill Holdsworth, co-host Ben Galvan, and special guests Tim Bowers and Alex Sundermann as they unravel the mysteries of microbiology and its crucial role in Infection Prevention and Sterile Processing. From uncovering the importance of the microbiology lab in identifying and preventing infections to revealing the secrets of surveillance testing and learning the basics of outbrea...
May 15, 2024•28 min
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information you need to know for your upcoming certification exam? What if there was an easier, more efficient way to maximize your study time AND focus on exam-critical concepts? This week on Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz is exploring the power of percentages and how they can be the key to unlocking your certification success. She’ll guide you through the process of interpreting exam content outlines, identifying the most heavily...
May 14, 2024•16 min
What if your next eval could unlock the next level in your Sterile Processing career? On this episode of Season 24 "The Papers that Make Us Awesome," Cody Troutt, Clinical Education Specialist at Steris, joins us to shake up everything you thought you knew about your annual Sterile Processing eval! Get ready to go beyond just an annual check-in, and dive into innovative strategies to help you leverage your eval into a powerful tool for advancing your career and making a lasting impact on your te...
May 13, 2024•36 min•Season 24Ep. 7
On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Ensuring a Disinfection Process with Proper Protocols and Training" with our UV Disinfection Expert™, Daan Hoek. To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: http://www.beyondcleanmedia.com Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one of o...
May 11, 2024•3 min
In this CE-approved Beyond Clean Articles On-The-Go episode, Hank Balch tackles the challenge of surgeon-specific surgical trays and the need for optimization and standardization of surgical instrumentation across service lines. -- "While surgeon-specific instrument trays are still common practice today, there are convincing arguments for reconsidering this practice based on the changing dynamics of asset management, tracking, and service delivery in sterile processing. Even though this discussi...
May 09, 2024•6 min
Hey #CleanFreaks, grab your favorite IP or SP professional, and gather 'round -- it's time to change the way we think about audits in Sterile Processing! In this episode of "On Pathogens & PPE," host Jill Holdsworth and co-host Paul Gentile, and special guests Jake McHugh and Frankie Catalfumo are joining forces to help you transform your team’s approach to the often-feared IP audit. From crafting customized audit forms to implementing pre-cleaning best practices, these audit gurus are shari...
May 08, 2024•30 min
Pursuing your certification goals is certainly an investment - an investment in your skills, time, career, and yes, your pocketbook! This week on Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz is joined by special guests Matthew Richardson and Robby Miller for an honest conversation about the money matters behind pursuing your certification goals. They’re breaking down the real costs of studying and test prep, sharing creative strategies for financing your exam goals, and sharing insider tips for ...
May 07, 2024•36 min
Are your department's compliance documents audit-ready? Are you checking and initialing your sterilizer printouts after every cycle, every time? In this week’s episode of Beyond Clean Season 24, we're joined by Rory Burke, Instrument Management System Coordinator, and documentation fanatic, to uncover the critical role that every single Sterile Processing professional plays in creating an unbreakable chain of documentation evidence. From the frontlines to the C-Suite, Rory reveals the dos and do...
May 06, 2024•31 min•Season 24Ep. 6
On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "It's a Wonderful Shelf-Life" with our Healthcare Storage Expert™, Dustin Patterson. To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: http://www.beyondcleanmedia.com Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one of our current experts? Contact u...
May 04, 2024•2 min
In this CE-approved Beyond Clean Articles On-The-Go episode, Hank Balch discusses the shortcomings of traditional Sterile Processing productivity metrics and proposes a new approach called usable units of service (UUOS) -- "A shift to a model of usable units of service (UUOS) for the Sterile Processing industry would bring quality standards back into the productivity conversation where they truly belong. The concept of UUOS is simple. Instead of measuring productivity as worked hours vs. UOS (tr...
May 02, 2024•6 min
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and join the fight against pathogens in this week’s new episode of "On Pathogens & PPE!” Host Jill Holdsworth, co-host Kenneth Campbell, and special guests Paul Gentile and Doe Kley are teaming up to guide you through the ins and outs of environmental cleaning. From breaking down the critical differences between cleaning and disinfecting to sharing insider tips for selecting the right disinfectants for your department, these experts will equip you with the t...
May 01, 2024•32 min
Money on your mind as you prep for your upcoming certification exam? You’re not alone! If you're stressing over how to afford your study materials, exam fees, and life expenses that come with pursuing your certification dreams, then this week's episode of Confident Certification™ is for you! Join Sarah B. Cruz as she dives into the financial side of certification prep, sharing her strategies for making your journey more affordable. From creating a realistic budget to balancing work, life, and st...
Apr 30, 2024•17 min
Do you really know what you think you know? Are your department's competencies a true measure of your skills, or are they just another annual checkmark in your file? On this episode of Beyond Clean Season 24, "The Papers that Make Us Awesome," we're challenging the status quo of department competencies with Jhmeid Billingslea, competency guru, and Managing Director for Surgical Services at Advantage Support Services, Inc. Together, we'll uncover how you can transform your SPD competencies from a...
Apr 29, 2024•34 min•Season 24Ep. 5
On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "The To-Do About Clean Steam" with our Water Quality Expert™, Jeffrey Paquet. To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: http://www.beyondcleanmedia.com Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one of our current experts? Contact us at an...
Apr 27, 2024•2 min
On this CE-approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for a game plan for excelling as an SPD Traveler AND a department who hires them: "When a new traveler arrives to begin a contract at your facility, don't forget these folks are not robots. They may be highly trained and highly experienced technicians, but they are still human beings. Their onboarding process may have to be accelerated, but it needs to be there, nonetheless. You should factor in adequate time for them to get acquainte...
Apr 25, 2024•8 min
Hey #CleanFreaks, are you following the right steps when donning and doffing your PPE? In this episode of "On Pathogens & PPE," host Jill Holdsworth, and co-host Kevin Anderson are joined by special guests Jill Morgan and Jen Jaffee to explore the proper techniques for safely donning and doffing your personal protective equipment. Tune in as these experts share their tips for finding the perfect balance between comfort and protection, ensuring your department is always stocked with the right...
Apr 24, 2024•30 min
Are you struggling to find your study groove amidst the chaos of everyday life? Don’t miss this week’s episode of Confident Certification™, as host Sarah B. Cruz explores the concept of environmental testing awareness and how it can impact your exam prep. Whether you're dealing with noisy neighbors, a packed schedule, or just trying to stay focused in a world of distractions, this episode will help you create a study plan that works with your unique environment - not against it. Tune in to disco...
Apr 23, 2024•15 min
Sterile Processing Policies and Procedures: Who writes them? Who should be writing them? And most importantly, can everyone understand them once they are written? This week, in Episode 4 from Beyond Clean Season 24, Mila Miranda, Assistant Manager for Sterile Processing at UC Davis Medical Center joins us to unravel the "how's" and "why's" behind crafting effective policies and procedures in Sterile Processing. Drawing from personal experiences, Mila emphasizes the critical role policies and pro...
Apr 22, 2024•27 min•Season 24Ep. 4
On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Efficiency Boost: How AI Improves SPD Workflows" with our Artificial Intelligence Expert™, Yeshwanth Pulijala, PhD. To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: http://www.beyondcleanmedia.com Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one o...
Apr 20, 2024•2 min
On this CE-approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in to learn about what a "triple-threat" Sterile Processing leader looks like and how to develop these important skills for your future: "Some of the best front-line technicians I've ever known excelled because they knew how important relationships were to doing their jobs well. Some of the best supervisors and managers I've seen were intentional about reaching out to other department leaders and collaborating on mutually beneficial proj...
Apr 18, 2024•7 min
Hey, Sterile Processing Pros! It's time to suit up and dive into the world of personal protective equipment (PPE) in this week’s new episode of our "On Pathogens & PPE" series! Join host Jill Holdsworth, co-host Paul Gentile, and special guests Cheron Rojo and Mary Ann DeMaet as they break down the basics and challenges of PPE. From gowns and gloves to masks and face shields, our experts will guide you through the essential armor of Sterile Processing safety. Whether you're a seasoned pro or...
Apr 17, 2024•31 min
Feeling burnt out from hitting the books? Are you struggling to stay focused and motivated during your study sessions? Then this week's new episode of Confident Certification™ is for you! Join host Sarah B. Cruz as she tackles the all-too-familiar phenomenon of study fatigue, exploring the three phases of mental exhaustion that can occur during your exam prep. Sarah shares her proven strategies for staying energized and engaged while studying, so you can overcome your study fatigue and maintain ...
Apr 16, 2024•19 min